A bibliometric study of international scientific productivity in giardiasis covering the period 1971–2010

Despite years of relative neglect, interest in Giardia infection seems to be recently growing, perhaps in part due to its inclusion into the World Health Organization’s Neglected Diseases Initiative since 2004. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of Giardia and giardiasis research over time, as represented by the quantity of published papers

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) as novel potential biomarker of early predictors of metabolic syndrome

There is a mechanistic link between the gut-derived metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and obesity-related diseases, suggesting that the TMAO pathway may also be linked to the pathogenesis of obesity. The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI), a gender-specific indicator of adipose dysfunction, and the Fatty Liver Index (FLI), a predictor of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are early predictors of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this cross-sectional observational study, we investigated TMAO levels in adults stratified according to Body Mass Index (BMI) and the association of TMAO with VAI and FLI. One hundred and thirty-seven adult subjects (59 males; 21⁻56 years) were enrolled. TMAO levels were detected using HPLC/MS analysis. Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HoMA-IR), VAI and FLI were included as cardio-metabolic indices. TMAO levels increased along with BMI and were positively associated with VAI and FLI, independently, on common potential covariates. The most sensitive and specific cut-offs for circulating levels of TMAO to predict the presence of NAFLD-FLI and MetS were ≥8.02 µM and ≥8.74 µM, respectively. These findings allow us to hypothesize a role of TMAO as an early biomarker of adipose dysfunction and NAFLD-FLI in all borderline conditions in which overt MetS is not present, and suggest that a specific cut-off of TMAO might help in identifying subjects at high risk of NAFLD

Different mice inbred strains humoral immune response against human prostate-specific antigen

The aim of the study was an investigation of humoral immune response to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of different mice inbred strains for further development of recommendations for appropriate immunization schemes for monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) obtaining. The study was conducted using: Balb/c and NZB mice; PSA from human sperm (as immunogen). In case of booster immunization immunogen was previously diluted to the desired concentration (10 or 30 µg per 100 µl) in saline, and injected in the tail vein or intraperitoneally. In case of other immunizations, we prepared emulsion solution of immunogen with adjuvant to final concentration of 10 or 30 µg per 100 µl: PSA was dissolved in saline, the same volume of adjuvant was added, and mixture was thoroughly mixed to form a stable emulsion. When subcutaneous administration, total dose of 100 µl was divided into two equal parts and injected in the hind paw of mice. Intraperitoneal immunization was performed by single administration of 100 µl of emulsion. The level of specific antibodies was determined by titration of blood sera from animals in indirect ELISA. Series of experiments were conducted to determine the level of humoral response of mice of different inbred strains (Balb/c and NZB) for multi-stage immunization with different duration with different amounts of PSA (10 and 30 μg), with different immunoglobulin administration (intraperitoneal and subcutaneously), and with different adjuvants (Freund’s complete and incomplete adjuvants, FCA/FIA). Final booster immunization at a dose of 30 μg was performed either in the same manner as the previous administration of the immunogen, or intravenously in the physio­logical saline solution. Dependencies of the humoral immune response of Balb/c and NZB mice against PSA on the route of administration of immunogen, the dose and duration of immunization were established. It was shown that intraperitoneal administration provided formation of higher titers of specific antibodies in case of both mice strains. Balb/c mice lines more rapidly responded to PSA, than an NZB mice (for all investigated schemes immunization). It was shown that the most effective immunization scheme was three times intraperitoneal administration with 10 µg of PSA for 8 weeks (the first immunization with FCA, and the rest – with FIA) and booster immunogen intravenous administration in saline solution

Influence of topical therapy with the parasiticide Ivermectin on embryo transfer in mice

It was necessary to treat a colony of several thousand transgenic and wild, type breeding mice for parasitic infestations. The suitability of the anti-parasitie agent, ivermectin, for controlling parasites in mice which are to be used for embryo transfer was investigated in a small preliminary study. There were no significant differences in plugging rate, number of embryos produced, number of implantations or number of resorptions between treated and untreated mice. Therefore the main colony of transgenic mice was treated with ivermectin to remove oxyurid worms and mites. The treatment was effective, since no parasites were found at a subsequent health screen, and there were no adverse effects such as diarrhoea or mis-mothering in treated mice. These results indicate that ivermeetin could be used in mice for transgenic studies without causing detrimental effects on either the mice or the experiment

A MAJOR GENETIC LOCUS AFFECTING RESISTANCE TO INFECTION WITH MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUSES : II. APPARENT IDENTITY TO A MAJOR LOCUS DESCRIBED FOR RESISTANCE TO FRIEND MURINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS

The N-B locus affecting tissue culture infectivity with naturally occurring murine leukemia viruses appears to be identical to the Fv-1 locus described for sensitivity to Friend leukemia virus. Results of tissue culture studies were parallel to results of studies in vivo and indicate that the F-S virus is N-tropic and the F-B virus is NB-tropic. Inbred and partially congenic mouse strains sensitive at Fv-1 show N-type sensitivity; strains resistant at Fv-1 show B-type sensitivity. The Fv-2 locus does not appear to exert significant effect in tissue culture. Knowledge of N-B type has been useful in predicting Fv-1 sensitivity

Гуморальный иммунный ответ мышей разных инбредных линий на фермент пероксидазу хрена

Целью работы было исследование гуморального иммунного ответа мышей разных линий на фермент пероксидазу хрена (HRP) и формирование рекомендаций о схеме иммунизации для получения моноклональных антител. Установлены закономерности иммунного ответа мышей линий Balb/c и NZB на HRP в зависимости от пути введения иммуногена, его дозы и длительности иммунизации. Доказано, что внутрибрюшинное (в/б) введение обеспечивает образование высших титров специфических антител. Мыши линий NZB более интенсивно отвечают на HRP, чем мыши линии Balb/c. Наиболее эффективной является схема иммунизации с трехкратным в/б введением 25 мкг HRP в течение 10 недель (первое введение – с полным адъювантом Фрейнда, остальные – с неполным адъювантом Фрейнда) и бустер-введением иммуногена внутривенно

Gingivae Contain Neural-crest- and Mesoderm-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Gingivae represent a unique soft tissue that serves as a biological barrier to cover the oral cavity side of the maxilla and mandible. Recently, the gingivae were identified as containing mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs). However, it is unknown whether the GMSCs are derived from cranial neural crest cells (CNCC) or the mesoderm. In this study, we show that around 90% of GMSCs are derived from CNCC and 10% from the mesoderm. In comparison with mesoderm MSCs (M-GMSCs), CNCC-derived GMSCs (N-GMSCs) show an elevated capacity to differentiate into neural cells and chondrocytes and induce activated T-cell apoptosis in vitro. When transplanted into mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, N-GMSCs showed superior effects in ameliorating inflammatory-related disease phenotype in comparison with the M-GMSC treatment group. Mechanistically, the increased immunomodulatory effect of N-GMSCs is associated with up-regulated expression of FAS ligand (FASL), a transmembrane protein that plays an important role in MSC-based immunomodulation. In summary, our study indicates that the gingivae contain both neural-crest- and mesoderm-derived MSCs with distinctive stem cell properties. © International & American Associations for Dental Research